Sheetsxsheet i



April 14, 1953 K. H. ANDREN PORTABLE SHEET COUNTER AND MARKER 2 SHEETS--SHEET 2 Original Filed July 25, 1949 INVENTOR. A ma/- Reissued Apr. 14, 1953 PORTABLE SHEET COUNTER AND =-MARKER.

Karl H. Andren, Greenfield; Wis., assignor to Counter and Control Corporation, Milwaukee, Wis., a corporation of'wisconsin OriginaLNo. 2,619,883, datedDecember 2,1952, SeriaLNo. 1.0.6 ,519', July 25,1949. Application for reissue December 30, 1952', Serial No; 328,834:

( Cl." 937-9 3') Matter enclosed in heavy" brackets ]*appears in the original patent but forms no part ofthis reissue specification; matter, printed in italics indicates the additions made by reissue.

3' Claims;

My present invention relates generally to imaprovements in the art of segregating successive articles into measured groups, and relates more specifically. to an improved portable assemblage for automatically counting and marking counted batches of sheets while being delivered to a stack.

The primary objectof thepresent inventionis to provide animproved portable sheet counting ancllmarkingunitwhich is simple in construction and highly efficient in use.

Inthe paper andother industries, it is customary to cuttheistocksintov sheets of predeterminedsize, and .to arrange the successive fin.- ishedsheetsin stacks for subsequent disburse.- mentin batchesor lots. Inorder. topermit such ultimate dispensationof the stacksinbatches each containinga-definite number of individual sheets, itis .desirableto segregate successive equal lots by means of.,markers or insert slips. While ithaslheretofore been common practiceto thus apply insert: slips to stacks of sheets, the. prior stack markers were custom built for cooperation only with certain types of printing presses or similar machines, and they were therefore not only costly to install but their use was limited-t the particular service or machine forwhich they were initially built.

It is, therefore, an important object of my in.- vention to provide a simple but highly reliable portable device for rapidly applying'such markers or insert slips in rarrexceedingly accuratemanner so that each-group will-containthe same number ofsheets. as all others; and wherein. all of the mechanism is embodiedinna single self contained unit.

Another object ofthe present invention is to provide an improved portable marker insert unit which. may be quickly and conveniently associated with various types of sheet stacking mechanisms to apply the marker stripsat any of the four sides of the stacks.

A further-object of this invention is toprovide an. extremelyreliable and accurately functioning portable sheet countingand'batch marker applying assemblage, which-is also flexible in itsadaptation to different. kinds, of sheethandling equips merit.

Still another objectgofmy present: invention is to provide an improved. marking unit for subdividing stacks of sheet-like-articles into equal lots continuously, accurately-and with minimum attention, and whereinxthe number-of I articles in eachlotimay be varied at. will.

These and vother objects and advantages of the invention will" be apparent" from the following detailed description.

A clearconception of the features constituting my'presentimprovement, and-of the construction and operation of several typical portable sheet counters and markers embodying the invention, may be had by referring to the'drawings accompanying and forming a part of thisspecification wherein like reference characters designate the same or similar parts in.thevarious-views.

Fig; 1 is a diagram depicting the equipment and wiring for electrical apparatus which may be utilized in connection with my portable sheet counting and marking unit,showing' a new sheet about" to operate the counter actuating switch and a fresh insert slip being'fed upon the top sheet of the previously formed1stack;

Fig. 2 is a similar diagram showingthe fresh insert slip fed'into final position but still attached to its source of supply, and alsoshowing several new sheets delivered over the, top of the stack and in the act of dropping thereon Fig. 3 is another similar diagram showing the freshly applied insert stripheld in proper position by several new sheets deposited thereon and immediately after the fresh slip has been severed from its supply source, and also showing other new sheetsbeing delivered'upon the stack;

Fig.4 is a side View of a commercial'portable sheet'counting and marker applying unit, wherein both, the elevation andthe lateralv position of themarker, delivery means may be varied without movingthe supportingstand;

Fig.5 is anenlargedpart sectional top view ofa modified commercial, insert, marker feeding and cutting mechanism, the sectionhav-ing been takenalongthe line 55' of Fig. 6;

Fig, 6, isasimilarly enlargedisiderelevation of thelmechanism shown inlFig; Sbutshowing. an insertmarker supply roll ,appliedthereto andv in theact ofufeeding a marking slipor ticket to a stackof sheets;

Fig. .7. is a. further enlarged end, view showing the insertslip severing knives of. themechanism of: Figsrd and 6;

Fig. v8 is an enlarged.sectionthroughthe HIECh-r anism taken along the line. 8'-8. ofFig. 5.

While. the invention has, been shown by way of, illustration as having been incorporated, in only.v two specific types. of. portable units for counting and marking paper sheets, it isnot intended'to unnecessarily restrict the utility thereof by virtue of this limited embodiment, and it is also contemplated that specificdescriptive terms employed herein be given the-broadestinterpretation consistent with the disclosure.

By referring to the-d agrams'bf Figs. l, 2'and stand]; it will" be noted that my iinproved porconstantly maintains the top sheet Ill of the stack I2 at a predetermined level or elevation. The feeder I I may be operable to deliver the successive sheets I against a fixed abutment or stop I in vertical alinement with the stack l2 but some distance above the top level of the latter as fixed by the supporting and lowering mechanism I4, so that a short time interval elapses While each successive new sheet I0 drops into finally stacked position. All of this feeding and stacking equipment is well known and constitutes no part of my invention, and my improved portable unit may be associated with any of the four sides of the stack I2.

In accordance with the present invention, I provide a portable unit having mounted thereon mechanism for effecting automatic repetition of a predetermined, number of events in the form of a compact device I1 and as shown in detail in my Patent No. 2,489,474, granted November 29, 1949, and also embodying a tape or ribbon supply and marker cutting and inserting mechanism I8, the device I! and mechanism I8 cooperating to accurately count the successive sheets Ill deposited upon the stack I2 and to inject marking slips or tickets I9 between the successive superimposed equal lots or batches 20 of the stack I2. The mechanism or device I1 is operable by a heavy duty solenoid as shown in Fig. 4, and is disposed or mounted upon a portable stand assemblage 2I as illustrated in Fig. 4, being cooperable with a sensitive switch 22 operable by the incoming or new sheets I0 delivered to the stack I2 by the feeder II, to accurately count the successive sheets; and this device Il may also be preset so as to actuate another switch 23 after a predetermined number of counting events or counts has been effected. Both of these switches 22, 23

are also directly associated with the portable unit.

The marker ribbon supply, injecting and cutting mechanism IB is likewise mounted upon the same portable stand assemblage 2|, and may be constructed either as shown in Fig. 4, or as in Figs. 5 to 7 inclusive, but in either case the mechanism l8 embodies a tape supply roll 25, a pair of tape feed rolls 26, a pair of cutter knives 21, 28, and a solenoid 29 operable by the switch 23 to effect feeding of the marker stock and severing thereof into successive insert lengths or tickets I9 of equal length. In general, this assemblage is such that after the selected and predetermined count of sheets II] in each batch or lot 20 has been reached, the switch 23 of the unit I! will automatically close thus energizing the solenoid 29 and causing the supply roll 25 and cooperating feed rolls 26 to deliver a fixed length of tape or marking paper beneath the next incoming sheet In as in Figs. 1 and 2; and after several new sheets ill have piled on top of the newly fed marker I9 so as to hold the latter as shown in Fig. 3, the switch 23 will open and the core of the solenoid 29 will be retracted to actuate the movable knife 21 and to thereby sever the fresh marker I9 from its supply source.

The portable stand assemblage illustrated in Fig. 4 comprises in general a base 3! mounted on rollers 32 and having retaining jack screws 33 for holding it in fixed position; and a telescopically adjustable column 34 including a lower hollow fixed section rising from the base 3| and providing a support for the mechanisms II, I8. The counting and control device I! is mounted upon a bracket 35 which is adjustable vertically along the lower fixed section of the column 34. and the marker ribbon supply roll 25 of the upper insert producing mechanism [8 is journalled upon the upper extremity of the upper vertically adjustable column section while the feeding and cutting portion of the mechanism I8 is carried by a pair of relatively adjustable suspension links 36, 31 so that the knives 21, 28 may be definitely positioned either vertically or horizontally relative to the stack forming mechanism. As previously indicated, the device I! is of the type shown and described in detail in my above mentioned patent, and the sheet counting switch 22 which cooperates with this device Il may be either a lever type or a photo-cell type, and the marker feed mechanism IS may be constructed in detail as shown in Figs. 5 to 7 inclusive.

In the modified commercial embodiment of the insert producing mechanism I8 as shown in Figs. 5, 6, 7, and 8, the solenoid 29 and the marker ribbon supply roll 25 are both mounted upon a common frame 39 which also supports the movable and fixed knives 21, 28 and the feed rollers 23. The core of the solenoid 29 is attached to the reciprocable rack 40 which coacts with a pinion 4I secured to the knife and feed roll actuating shaft 42 and having an integral radial arm 5! and the solenoid core is movable in one direction when its coil is energized by closing of the switch 23 and is movable in the opposite direction by a spring 43 when this coil is de-energized. The movable knife blade 21 is oscillatable by an eccentric pin 44 and roller 45 carried by a shaft 46 and coacting with a slot 41 in this blade, and the shaft 46 is rotatable by the shaft 42 through bevel gears 48 one of which has lugs 52 thereon engageable by a pawl 53 pivoted to one side of the pinion arm 5|. The feed rollers 26 are operable by spur gears 49 to feed a definite length of marker stock from the supply roll 25 whenever the solenoid 29 is energized, and one of the gears 4&1 also has lugs 54 thereon engageable by another pawl 55 pivoted to the opposite side of the pinion arm iii. The movable knife 21 becomes active to sever the marker l9 from the supply source only after a length of stock has been fed over the stack and several new articles or sheets Ii] have been deposited thereon. The frame 39 of this modified portable unit may be vertically adiusted along the upright column 34 of the stand 2| with the aid of set-screws in an ob-' vious manner.

The improved portable unit may be readily positioned and quickly installed in conjunction with standard stack forming apparatus such as shown, and when the various parts have been adjusted for effective cooperation, the normal functioning of the improved system is substantially as follows. The sheet or other article feeder II is operating to continuously and rapidly deliver the successive articles it against the positioning stop I5 above the table l3, from whence the drop by gravity to form the stack I2. As each successive article ID closes the switch 22, the device I'I accurately counts them, and when a predetermined number of counts has been completed, the device Il immediately functions to close the switch 23 and thereby simultaneously energizes the solenoid 29. This actuation of the solenoid 29 promptly causes the feed rollers 26 to deliver a definite length of insert mar er sto k from the supply roll 25 past the separated knives 21, 28 and upon the top articles of the stack 12 before a new article H) has fallen upon the stack, and after a few additional articles have been deposited upon the newly deposited marking insert, the solenoid 29 is de-energized and the spring 43 immediately becomes active to operate the knife 21 and to sever the new marker is from the source of supply. ihe lowering mechanism M functions to automatically and continually maintain the upper end of the stack ii at the proper level or elevation, and the sheet counting and insert applying cycles are repeated in rapid succession as long as the supply of new sheets ill continues.

It will thus be noted that I have in fact provided a simple and automaticall functioning portable sheet counter and marker for accurately separating successive sheets into lots of predetermined magnitude, and for definitely marking the successive groups for convenient future dispensation. The sheet counting and control device I! functions to count the sheets iii in each batch with utmost precision, and also operates the insert supply and severing mechanism 8 with such rapidity that the markers are injected between the top of the stack [2 and the next succeeding sheet it while the latter is still in suspension. The improved apparatus besides being simple and compact, is also highly flexible in its adaptation by virtue of its compactness and portability, and may be utilized to handle either plain or printed sheets Ill of paper or any other similar sheet materials. The present improved portable unit also may be installed without the use of tools and operated at moderate cost and with minimum attention, and has in fact proven highly satisfactory and successful in actual commercial use.

It should be understood that it is not desired to limit this invention to the exact details of construction and operation of the typical portable units herein specifically shown and described, for various modifications within the scope of the appended claims may occur to persons skilled in the art.

I claim:

1. In a portable sheet counting and marking unit, a stand having a base provided with an upright column comprising a lower fixed section and an upper vertically adjustable section, an electric solenoid actuated sheet counting device vertically adjustable along said fixed lower column section, a marker supply roll rotatably mounted near the upper end of said upper vertically adjustable column section, a pair of pivotally connected suspension links one of which has its end remote from the pivotal connection swingably associated with the upper portion of said upper adjustable column section, an electric solenoid actuated marker stock feeder and cutter swingably associated with the end of the other link remote from the pivotal connection, and means carried by said stand and being operable by said counting device to actuate said feeder and cutter.

2. In a portable sheet counting and marking unit, a stand having a base provided with an upright rigid column comprising a lower fixed section and an upper section telescopically vertically adjustable within said lower section, an electric solenoid actuated sheet counting device vertically adjustably mounted upon said lower column section, a marker supply roll rotatably mounted near the upper end of said upper column section, a pair of pivotally connected rigid suspension links one of which has its end remote from the pivotal connection pivotally secured to the upper portion of said upper column section near the axis of said supply roll, and an electric solenoid actuated marker stock feeder and cutter swingably connected to the end of the other link remote from said pivotal connection and being operable by said counting device.

3. In a portable sheet counting and marking unit, a stand having a base provided with an upright rigid column comprising a lower hollow fired section and an upper section telescopically vertically adjustable within said lower section, an electric solenoid actuated sheet counting device carried by the upper portion of said lower column section, a marker supply roll rotatably mounted near the upper end of one of said column sections, a rigid suspension link one end of which is pivotally associated with the upper portion of said upper adjustable column section, and an electric solenoid actuated marker stock cutter carrier by the swinging end of said link remote from its pivoted end and being operable by said counting device.

KARL H. ANDREN.

References Cited in the file of this patent or the original patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 745,847 Holton Dec. 1, 1903 926,904 Smithwick July 6, 1909 1,782,660 Meyer Nov. 25, 1930 2,377,949 Mclvlenamy June 12, 1945 2,382,998 Kleinschmidt Aug. 21, 1945 2,395,490 Mathews Feb. 26, 1946 

